Power retailer Manila Electric Co. said Monday its total interruptible load program capacity reached 616 megawatts that would help ensure stable and reliable electricity service during the dry months.
Meralco said in a statement it secured commitment for additional de-loading capacity under the ILP from Ayala Property Management Corp.
APMC pledged an additional 56 MW of de-loading capacity to bring the real estate firm’s total commitment to 144 MW from 88 MW and expand the distribution utility’s ILP capacity to 616 MW from 560 MW.
There are 117 companies across the Meralco franchise area that are part of the ILP.
ILP is an energy demand-side management program through which large-load customers are asked to use their generator sets or reduce their operations instead of drawing power from the grid.
This will spare households from power interruptions during instances of red alert or when supply is insufficient to meet the demand.
APMC chief engineer and chief operating officer Michael Magpusao said ILP participation is a “win-win” for both companies and communities.
APMC manages over 200 properties nationwide ranging from residential buildings to malls and estates.
“The ILP exemplifies the spirit of bayanihan because while the national government prepares the grid for a more reliable supply, we, in the load side, are doing our part to help communities,” he said in a recent Meralco webinar.
WalterMart chairman Abraham Uy said the ILP program lowered the occurrence of unplanned power outages, thus preventing damage to their equipment.
“Meralco’s management of the ILP program benefits companies which no longer need to worry about surges,” he said, referring to sudden demand surges that could lead to power shutting off.
Meralco renewed its call for more companies to join the ILP to help avert possible power interruptions, especially during the dry months―when electricity demand traditionally spikes.
“Electricity consumption historically rises during the dry months because of the increased use of cooling appliances. That’s why we, in Meralco, continue to share a wealth of energy efficiency tips, not only to help our customers better manage their power consumption, but also to encourage its adoption as a way of life,” Meralco spokesperson and vice president for corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga said.
Meralco, in coordination with the Department of Energy and industry stakeholders, assured 7.6 million customers of its relentless efforts to deliver sufficient, reliable and stable electricity service. Alena Mae S. Flores